Resuscitator

ABSTRACT

A respiratory assisting device for use to support and to reestablish substantially normal breathing when same has been halted or impaired as by immersion or other suffocatory circumstances and including a mask or face piece having an exhalation port in one end of a body member and an inhalation port within the body member and with an aperture between the ports and communicating with the mask and a valve member having a flap portion normally closing the inhalation port and movably to open the inhalation port and close the exhalation port in response to manual pressure on a gas bag mounted on the other end of the body member and which receives gas from a suitable source.

United States Patent [191 Schwarz RESUSCITATOR Karl H. Schwarz, 6034Windsor Dr., Shawnee Mission, Kans. 66205 [22] Filed: Apr. 24, 1972 [21]Appl. No.: 246,869

[76] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl. 128/1457, 137/102 [51] Int. Cl A62b 7/00 [58] Field ofSearch 128/1457, 145.6, 145.5,

[ Mar. 12, 1974 8/1958 Great Britain 128/1455 4/1962 Great Britainl28/l45.5

[5 7] ABSTRACT A respiratory assisting device for use to support and tore-establish substantially normal breathing when same has been halted orimpaired as by immersion or other suffocatory circumstances andincluding a mask or face piece having an exhalation port in one end of abody member and an inhalation port within the body member and with anaperture between the ports and communicating with the mask and a valvemember having a flap portion normally closing the inhalation port andmovably to open the inhalation port and close the exhalation port inresponse to manual pressure on a gas bag mounted on the other end of thebody member and which receives gas from a suitable source.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEB MR 1 2 I974 SHE? 2 OF 2 .irlxxazirnrm RESUSCITATOR The present invention relates to resuscitators andmore particularly to resuscitators of the type which are hand operated,readily portable, and effective for emergency use.

Manual resuscitators are in common use in hospitals, clinics,ambulances, and at many other locations and are particularly adapted tosupport and re-establish respiration. Patients requiring such assistancein supporting or re-establishing respiration include those withpulmonary or cardiopulmonary arrests caused by drowning, electrocution,poisoning stroke, patients with repressed or obstructed respiration andthe like.

Manual resuscitators heretofore used employ a rather complex valvingarrangement and relatively expensive masks and housings for the valvingarrangement. Most of the prior art manual resuscitators featureself-inflating flexible or pliable bags in combination with a rathercomplex valving arrangement. Upon compressing the bag with one hand, theair or gas from the bag is forced through the valve mechanism via a maskor airway into a patients lungs. Upon releasing the hand from the bag,the patient exhales automatically through an exhalation port and ambientair sometimes enriched with oxygen enters the bag due to itsself-inflating characteristics.

When the prior art resuscitators are used for different patients thereis a danger of cross infection. Such resuscitators may be autoclaved orsterilized, however, this is a costly and time consuming operation andtakes the resuscitator out of service during such cleaning orsterilizing thereby requiring that reserve units be available duringsuch cleaning and sterilizing procedures. Facilities to autoclave andsterilize such resuscitators are not normally available in many placeswhere resuscitators are used, such as in ambulances, nursing homes,first aid stations, and the like. Prior art resuscitators are relativehigh in cost due to the relatively complex design.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide aresuscitator or respiratory assisting device particularly adapted toovercome the above mentioned disadvantages; to provide such aresuscitator which is capable of instantaneous administration of onehundred percent oxygen to a patient; to provide such a resuscitatorwhich is of simple design and thereby of economical construction; toprovide such a resuscitator which is relatively economical anddisposable after use to thereby eliminate the danger of crosscontamination or infection; to provide such a resuscitator which isadapted to be operated with oxygen or air from any suitable source, suchas compressed gas cylinders, commonly available hospital piping systems,liquid oxygen devices, chemical oxygen generators, and the like; toprovide such a resuscitator which is only a very small fraction of thecost of prior art resuscitators and which substantially increasespatient safety particularly in hospitals, nursing homes, and the likebecause several resuscitators may be located at all patient locationsrather than one prior art resuscitator at a central location; to providesuch a resuscitator which is disposable thereby eliminating costly andtime consuming cleaning by autoclaving, sterilizing, and the like; toprovide such a resuscitator which is economical to manufacture,particularly well adapted for the proposed use, and which is disposableafter use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and includeexemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate variousobjects and features of the resuscitator.

FIG. l is a perspective view of a resuscitator embodying features of thepresent invention and shown in use.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the resuscitator.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the resuscitator.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the resuscitator andshowing the face of a person in broken lines.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the resuscitator and takenon line 5-5, FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view through the resuscitator and takenon line 6-6, FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a valve member for usewith the resuscitator.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through a modified resuscitator.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified valvemember.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the present invention in virtually anyappropriate detailed structure.

In the disclosed embodiments of the present invention, the referencenumeral 1 generally designates a resuscitator or respiratory assistingdevice for use to support and to re-establish substantially normalbreathing when same hasbeen halted or impaired, as by immersion or othersuffocatory circumstance. The resuscitator includes a mask or face piece2 with a tubular body member 3 mounted on the mask or face piece 2 andhaving an exhalation port 4 in one end of the body member 3 and aninhalation port 5 within the body member 3 and with an aperture 6between the ports 4 and 5 and communicating with the mask 2. A valvemember 7 is mounted on the body member 3 and has a flap portion 8normally closing the inhalation port 5 and movable to open theinhalation port 5 and close the exhalation port 4 in response to manualpressure on a gas bag 9 mounted on the other end of the body member 3and which receives gas from a suitable source. The gas bag 9 is merelyflexible or pliable and not selfinflating.

The mask or face piece 2 may be of any suitable shape, however, theillustrated mask 2 has a wall defining a cavity of a size to enclose andsurround the nose and mouth of a person receiving artificialrespiration. The wall has a peripheral portion 10 adapted to sealinglyengage the face of a person and to enclose the mouth and nose thereof.In the illustrated device, the peripheral portion 10 defines arelatively narrow portion 11 at one end which is adapted to engage thebridge of the nose and a wide portion 12 adapted to surround the mouthand engage the chin, as is conventional for resuscitator masks.

It is desirable to provide a substantially air or gas tight seal aroundthe peripheral portion of the mask or face piece 2, therefore, aflexible seal member 13 is mounted on the peripheral portion 10 of themask or face piece 2 and includes a mounting portion 14 in engagementwith a marginal edge portion of the wall defining the mask 2 and aflange portion 15 extending inwardly from the peripheral portion 10 ofthe mask or face piece 2. The flange portion 15 is engageable with theface of a person and effects sealing engagement therewith. The flangeportion 15 also permits the resuscitator 1 to be adjustable to conformto the face of small children and adults. The flange portion 15 ispreferably a thin member having sufficient flexibility to conform to theconfiguration of the face of the person and the flange portion 15preferably has sufficient width to effect engagement with a sufficientarea of the face to effect sealing engagement therewith.

The body member 3 is mounted on the mask or face piece 2 and may beformed integral therewith. The body member 3 is illustrated as agenerally tubular member having a side wall 16 with an end wall 17 atone end thereof and having the exhalation port 4 therein. The inhalationport 5 is illustrated as being defined by portions 18 extending inwardlyfrom the side wall 16 of the body member 3 and positioned in closeproximity to the exhalation port 4. The inhalation port 5 is positionedon one side of the aperture 6 and the end wall 17 is positioned on theother side of the aperture 6.

The aperture 6 is positioned in the side wall 16 of the body member 3and provides for communication for gas between the body member 3 and themask 2 during inhalation and between the mask 2 and the exhalation port4 during exhaling by the person.

It is desirable to provide means for communicating a suitable source ofgas, such as oxygen, with the gas bag 9. Therefore, a tubular gaspassage 19 is mounted on the side wall 16 of the body member 3 and has afirst portion 20 extending from the body member 3 and positionedintermediate the ends of the side wall 16. The first portion 20 of thegas passage 19 is illustrated as being substantially normal orperpendicular to the side wall 16 and a second portion 21 of the gaspassage 19 extends from the first portion 20 and substantially normal tothe first portion and substantially parallel with the side wall 16 ofthe body member 3 and the second portion 21 has one end thereof openingin facing relation with the other end of the body member 3 and the gasbag mounted thereon for direct flow of gas from the source and into thegas bag 9 through the body member 3.

It is desirable to provide means on the mask or face piece 2 or on thebody member 3 to be held or gripped by an operator, therefore, a pair oflaterally spaced and preferably substantially parallel ribs 22 and 23are formed on the mask or face piece 2 and extend from the end wall 17of the body member 3 and the exhalation port 4 therein. The ribs 22 and23 each have a gen erally concave recess 24 in the outer edge thereofwhich is adapted to be engaged by a thumb or index finger of an operatorto hold the mask in engagement with the face of a person receivingrespiratory assistance and to substantially eliminate closing of theexhalation port 4 by an operator.

The valve member '7 has a portion movable between the ports 4 and 5 tothereby control gas flow into the mask or face piece 2 for inhalationand exhalation flow from the mask or face piece 2. The illustrated valvemember 7 has a mounting portion 25 supported on the side wall 16 of thebody member 3 and the flap portion 8 of the valve member 7 is positionedwithin the body member 3 and is in position normally closing theinhalation port 5 and is movable between the portions 18 and the endwall 17. A connecting portion 26 is positioned between the mountingportion 25 and the flap portion 8 and is of reduced thickness to therebypermit movement of the flap portion 8.

It is preferable that the flap portion 8 remain in engagement with theportions 18 defining the inhalation port 5 except when manual pressureis applied to the gas bag 9 or when gas pressure within the gas bag 9exceeds a selected pressure. Therefore, one side of the mounting portion25, connecting portion 26, and flap portion 8 are coplanar therebycreating sufficient surface tension for maintaining a closing biasagainst the portions 18 defining the inhalation port 5.

In using a resuscitator constructed as illustrated and described, asuitable source of a selected gas, such as oxygen, is connected to thefirst portion 20 of the gas passage 19 for flow of the gas through thegas passage 19 and from the body member 3 into the gas bag 9 to therebyexpand same. The gas bag 9 is manually compressed or collapsed, therebyforcing the flap portion 8 to move from the inhalation port 5 to theexhalation port 4 in response to the increased pressure within the gasbag 9 and thereby permit flow into the mask or face piece 2 for inhalingof the gas by the person. When the person exhales the flap portion 8returns to the position closing the inhalation port 5 and the breath ofthe person flows outwardly through the exhalation port 4 and between theribs 22 and 23. During the exhalation flow, the gas bag 9 is beingrefilled with gas to thereby be ready to be collapsed again manually forthe inhalation portion of a persons breathing cycle.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a modified respiratory assisting device 30particularly adapted for use as an inhalation device for use by:patients breathing on their own and is particularly adapted for personsrequiring one hundred percent percent) oxygen wherein the person maybreathe only the gas from the bag 9 rather than breathing air drawn intothe mask 2 through the exhalation port 4. The mask or face piece 2, bodymember 3, gas bag 9, and gas passage 19 are substantially similar to theresuscitator-1, however, a modified valve member3l is used in themodified respiratory assisting device 30.

The modified valve member 31 includes a mounting portion 32 supported onthe side wall 16 of the body member 3. The mounting portion 32 issubstantially similar to the mounting portion 25 of the valve member 7.A connecting portion 33 is of reduced thickness and is positionedbetween the mounting portion 32 and a first flap portion 34 within thebody member 3 and normally closing the inhalation port 5. The first flapportion 34 is movable between the portions 18 and an interior surface ofthe end wall 17 in response to flow of gas through the inhalation port5. The connecting portion 33 and the first flap portion 34 aresubstantially similar to the connecting portion 26 and the flap portionrespectively of the valve member 7. The modified valve member 31includes a second flap portion 35 extending from the mounting portion 32and normally engaging an exterior surface of the end wall 17 and closingthe exhalation port 4. The second flap portion 35 is movable away fromthe exterior surface of the end wall 17 to open the exhalation port 4 byflow of gas outwardly from the mask or face piece 2 and through theaperture 6 and exhalation port 4. The second flap portion 35 is normallybiased to engage the exterior surface end wall l7 and thereby maintainthe exhalation port 4 closed except during outward flow of exhaustbreath or exhaling by the patient.

Use of the modified respiratory assisting device 30 is substantiallysimilar to use of the resuscitator 1 except that the patient may notbreathe normal atmosphere and may breathe only gas from the gas bag 9.The gas bag 9 would fill during the exhalation phase and deflate duringthe inhalation phase of the patients breathing. Inhalation flow iseffective to maintain the second flap portion 35 in position.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A resuscitatorcomprising:

a. a mask having a gas supply portion and a peripheral portion, saidsupply portion including a first wall attached directly to saidperipheral portion and containing an inhalation port and a second wallattached directly to said peripheral portion and adjacent to said firstwall and containing an exhalation port, said peripheral portion defininga chamber adapted to receive a mouth and nose of a person;

b. said first and second walls defining an aperture therebetween openingdirectly into said chamber;

0. said supply portion having a gas receiving body adjacent saidinhalation port and communicating therewith;

d. means connected to said gas receiving body and operative toselectively deliver gas through said inhalation port and aperturedirectly into said chamber; and

e. a valve member in said aperture and normally closing said inhalationport and movable within said aperture to close said exhalation port inresponse to a flow of gas through said inhalation port.

2. The resuscitator as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said gas supply portion includes a pair of finger contracting ribsspaced apart on either side of said exhalation port and extendingoutwardly therefrom.

3. A resuscitator comprising:

a. a mask having a peripheralportion adapted to sealingly engage a faceof a person and to enclose a mouth and a nose of the person;

b. a tubular body member on said mask, said body member having spacedportions and a port to the exterior in one of said portions;

c. a gas inlet adjacent the other portion of said body member forcommunicating a source of gas to said body member;

d. a flexible gas bag having one end thereof mounted on the otherportion of said body member and adapted to be expanded by gas from saidgas source;

e. a second port within said body member and spaced from said firstnamed port;

f. said body portion between the ports having communication with theinterior of the mask;

g. valve means in said body member normally closing said second namedport and movable between said second named port and said first namedport for substantially closing same to thereby control gas flow intosaid mask for inhalation and exhalation flow from said maskrespectively;

h. said valve means comprising:

1. a mounting portion supported on said body member;

2. a first flap portion within said body member and normally closingsaid second port and movable between said first named port and saidsecond port;

3. a connecting portion of reduced thickness between said mountingportion and said first flap portion; and

4. a second flap portion extending from said mounting portion andnormally closing said first named port, said second flap portion beingadapted to be moved to open said first named port by flow of gasoutwardly from said mask and through said first named port.

4. A resuscitator comprising:

a. a mask having a wall having a peripheral portion adapted to be insealing engagement with a face of a person and to enclose a mouth and anose of the person;

b. a tubular body member mounted on said mask and having a side wall andan end wall at one end of said body member;

0. a tubular gas passage mounted on said body member and having one endthereof within and adjacent the other end of said body member forcommunicating a source of gas to said body member;

d. a flexible gas bag having one end thereof open and mounted on theother end of said body member and adapted to be expanded by gas fromsaid gas passage;

e. a first port in the end wall of said body member;

f. portions extending inwardly from said side wall of said body memberand defining a second port, said second port being positioned in closeproximity to said first port;

g. said body member between the ports having communication with theinterior of said mask;

h. valve means in said body member and normally closing said second portand being movable between said end wall of said body member and saidportions defining said second port for closing said first port and saidsecond port respectively to thereby control gas flow through said secondport for inhalation and flow through said first port during exhalation;

i. said valve means comprising:

1. a mounting portion supported on said side wall of said body memberand having opposite sides;

2. a first flap portion having opposite sides and being within said bodymember and normally closing said second port and movable between the endwall of said body member and said porflap portion; and

4. a second flap portion extending from said mounting portion andnormally closing said first port, said second flap being moved to opensaid first port by flow of gas outwardly from said mask and through saidfirst port.

1. A resuscitator comprising: a. a mask having a gas supply portion anda peripheral portion, said supply portion including a first wallattached directly to said peripheral portion and containing aninhalation port and a second wall attached directly to said peripheralportion and adjacent to said first wall and containing an exhalationport, said peripheral portion defining a chamber adapted to receive amouth and nose of a person; b. said first and second walls defining anaperture therebetween opening directly into said chamber; c. said supplyportion having a gas receiving body adjacent said inhalation port andcommunicating therewith; d. means connected to said gas receiving bodyand operative to selectively deliver gas through said inhalation portand aperture directly into said chamber; and e. a valve member in saidaperture and normally closing said inhalation port and movable withinsaid aperture to close said exhalation port in response to a flow of gasthrough said inhalation port.
 2. The resuscitator as set forth in claim1 wherein: a. said gas supply portion includes a pair of fingercontracting ribs spaced apart on either side of said exhalation port andextending outwardly therefrom.
 2. a first flap portion having oppositesides and being within said body member and normally closing said secondport and movable between the end wall of said body member and saidportions defining said second port for closing same respectively;
 2. afirst flap portion within said body member and normally closing saidsecond port and movable between said first named port and said secondport;
 3. a connecting portion of reduced thickness between said mountingportion and said first flap portion; and
 3. A resuscitator comprising:a. a mask having a peripheral portion adapted to sealingly engage a faceof a person and to enclose a mouth and a nose of the person; b. atubular body member on said mask, said body member having spacedportions and a port to the exterior in one of said portions; c. a gasinlet adjacent the other portion of said body member for communicating asource of gas to said body member; d. a flexible gas bag having one endthereof mounted on the other portion of said body member and adapted tobe expanded by gas from said gas source; e. a second port within saidbody member and spaced from said first named port; f. said body portionbetween the ports having communication with the interior of the mask; g.valve means in said body member normally closing said second named portand movable between said second named port and said first named port forsubstantially closing same to thereby control gas flow into said maskfor inhalation and exhalation flow from said mask respectively; h. saidvalve means comprising:
 3. a connecting portion of reduced thicknessbetween said mounting portion and said first flap portion, saidconnecting portion having one side thereof substantially coplanar withone side of said mounting portion and one side of said first flapportion; and
 4. A resuscitator comprising: a. a mask having a wallhaving a peripheral portion adapted to be in sealing engagement with aface of a person and to enclose a mouth and a nose of the person; b. atubular body member mounted on said mask and having a side wall and anend wall at one end of said body member; c. a tubular gas passagemounted on said body member and having one end thereof within andadjacent the other end of said body member for communicating a source ofgas to said body member; d. a flexible gas bag having one end thereofopen and mounted on the other end of said body member and adapted to beexpanded by gas from said gas passage; e. a first port in the end wallof said body member; f. portions extending inwardly from said side wallof said body member and defining a second port, said second port beingpositioned in close proximity to said first port; g. said body memberbetween the ports having communication with the interior of said mask;h. valve means in said body member and normally closing said second portand being movable between said end wall of said body member and saidportions defining said second port for closing said first port and saidsecond port respectively to thereby control gas flow through said secondport for inhalation and flow through said first port during exhalation;i. said valve means comprising:
 4. a second flap portion extending fromsaid mounting portion and normally closing said first named port, saidsecond flap portion being adapted to be moved to open said first namedport by flow of gas outwardly from said mask and through said firstnamed port.
 4. a second flap portion extending from said mountingportion and normally closing said first port, said second flap beingmoved to open said first port by flow of gas outwardly from said maskand through said first port.